Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications

    Siebel Rolls Out Component Assembly

    Written by

    Renee Boucher Ferguson
    Published October 21, 2005
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      At its annual user conference in Boston last week Siebel announced the fruits of its labor around Project Nexus, a four-year development plan initially thought to be the next generation componentization of the companys CRM (customer relationship management) applications. What Nexus, now branded Component Assembly, really turns out to be is Siebels SOA (service oriented architecture)-based development and integration platform that lets users orchestrate CRM components based on business processes.

      Siebel Systems Inc.s Component Assembly platform is somewhere in the range of what SAP AG is creating with NetWeaver, and Oracle Corp. with Fusion Middleware—the ability for users to build composite applications using an applistructure, or underlying middleware platform that support a given companys application components. Given that Oracle is in the process of acquiring Siebel—and has said publicly that its CRM software will be the foundation for Oracles Fusion CRM—the real question now is what Oracle will do with Nexus.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifClick here to read more about Siebels CEO encouraging customers to stay the course.

      “Adopt it,” suggested J.R. Jesson, CTO of EDS Applications and Industry Frameworks Portfolio, in Plano, Texas. “And look at what components would align with Fusion. We have a strong belief in Fusion Middleware, but Siebel is near ready for prime time.”

      What Siebels platform brings to the table is a specific customer model, or way of defining the functionality that manages customer data and links the profiles of the same customer across applications. One of the key elements of the Fusion Middleware architecture is defining the customer model and then using that to define XML interfaces that Web services will look for in calling out services, according to Joshua Greenbaum, principal of Enterprise Applications Consulting, in Berkley, Calif.

      “Oracle is going to have to say, this is how we are defining the customer record, and every one of those will have to be deeply integrated with Fusion—thats a lot of work,” said Greenbaum. “They dont want to lose some of the good stuff in PeopleSoft CRM, or Oracle CRM, and they want to add CRM into some of the Retek stuff [they acquired]. So the definitions that are in Nexus are going to touch every bit of Fusion and thats a big job.”

      For EDS Jesson, the features that matter in a middleware platform are “the use of open standards at the user interface construction level and user-to-user workflow components and the use of business language to represent that,” said Jesson, who is an Oracle and Siebel partner and user. “Thats what Nexus nails,”

      While Oracle has said the addition of Siebel will not change the expected 2007 delivery timeline of Fusion, the reality is adding Nexus to the mix will likely slow the process. Charles Phillips, co-president of Oracle, has said the transaction will likely not close until early 2006, which means Oracle will have to wait until at least January before it gets its hands on Seibels code. At the same time, Nexus is being built using IBMs WebSphere platform, “thats got to change,” said Greenbaum.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifClick here to read more about Siebel denying the demise of CRM OnDemand.

      Fundamental changes in the ERP (enterprise resource planning) market are prompting a similar sea change in the CRM sector, with vendors working to provide composite application platforms, and componentized applications. Sage Software plc, for example, announced last week a complete realignment around CRM. Its creating a global development center, a real departure for the fractured company, bringing together there here-to-for disparate development operations. Its also integrating its on-demand and on-premise CRM software, at least doubling its integration process points between its CRM and accounting packages, and taking a process centric approach to development going forward. Sage is also in the process of polling its 4.5 million users to see which top five processes are important to them. When asked if the company is considering a platform play, Dave Batt, the companys new general manager of CRM, said he has not ruled out the possibility.

      At the same time, companies like SAP, of Walldorf, Germany, and Microsoft, of Redmond, Wash., have hinted at expanding their current CRM offerings with on demand versions that would, in all likelihood, sit on top of their respective development platforms.

      “I dont have clearance to say anything about [on demand CRM],” said Andrew Leigh, director for solutions strategy for mySAP CRM. “Whats important to the mid-market is that because were able to provide components, theyre able to buy” functionality on demand.

      /zimages/2/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis about customer relationship management solutions.

      Renee Boucher Ferguson
      Renee Boucher Ferguson

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×